Medical News Today: Missed periods and ovarian cancer

A person may miss a period for a number of common reasons. Ovarian cancer is a rare cause of a missed period.

Ovarian cancer affects the ovaries, which are female reproductive organs that sit on either side of the uterus, or womb. This type of cancer may develop from various cell types in the ovaries or fallopian tubes. The most common type of ovarian cancer is an epithelial tumor called a serous carcinoma.

Ovarian cancer represents around 3 percent of cancer cases in women. In the United States, a female’s risk of developing ovarian cancer is around 1 in 78.

Understanding the symptoms of ovarian cancer can help a person get an early diagnosis. Missing a period can sometimes indicate ovarian cancer, but there are other more common symptoms.

In this article, we explore the link between ovarian cancer and missed periods. We also cover the symptoms and risk factors for this type of cancer and describe the outlook and when to see a doctor.

Can a missed period be a symptom of ovarian cancer?

There can be various reasons for a missed period.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), ovarian cancer can affect a person’s menstrual periods. Changes may include bleeding that is heavier than usual or otherwise irregular. Missing a period can be one example.

If a person has ovarian cancer, missing a period can be an early sign. But there are many more common reasons for missing a period. These include:

a laparoscopy or colonoscopy, which involve inserting a thin tube with a camera and light into a person’s body to check for signs of cancer

a biopsy, which involves taking a sample of the ovaries and analyzing it

blood tests to check overall health and rule out other conditions

If a person has ovarian cancer, an early diagnosis means that they can receive the necessary treatment as soon as possible.

Screening

Doctors may recommend screening for people with an increased risk.

Screening may involve one or both of the following tests:

a transvaginal ultrasound, or TVUS

a cancer antigen, or CA-125, blood test

The CA-125 blood test looks for a protein present on ovarian cancer cells.

A 2015 study found that interpreting the results of a CA-125 blood test using a risk of ovarian cancer algorithm may help doctors diagnose a higher percentage of people with ovarian cancer. The researchers compared the algorithm with the results of the blood test alone.

Around 20 percent of people with ovarian cancer receive an early diagnosis. Often, this type of cancer causes no symptoms in the early stages.

At present, there is no recommended screening test for people who have no symptoms and no increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Outlook

Receiving a diagnosis and treatment early may improve a person’s outlook.

Around 94 percent of people live longer than 5 years after an early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Takeaway

Overexercising can cause missed periods.

Missed periods are usually not a sign of a serious condition, but they can indicate:

low body weight

excessive exercise

pregnancy

stress

hormonal imbalance

However, less commonly, missing a period or having irregular periods may indicate ovarian cancer. More common symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

pelvic or belly pain

eating less

feeling full quickly

feeling the need to urinate often

urinating frequently

If a person has symptoms of ovarian cancer, they should see a doctor for an evaluation. The outlook for ovarian cancer can improve with early diagnosis and detection.